Right, just a display. Like a TV.

Like a monitor. They don't have anything smart, like TVs do.

Right, like a monitor. https://www.privacyguides.org/news/2026/07/17/lg-monitors-ca...

This is the result of a stupid Windows feature that automatically installs software without prompting, which has nothing to do with hardware beyond a mechanism for the OS to identify it (in this case, through EDID).

The solution here is to not use Windows, or to disable this auto-install feature if you do, not to avoid all external hardware the OS is capable of identifying (read: every device connected through any modern bus or I/O interface).

Monitors have abused hdmi to get internet access, too.

No they haven't.

TVs didn't use to have anything smart in them either. That's why 'Forgeties79' said:

  My fear is that as usual if they become popular, they’ll just be yet another device used for more invasion of privacy and spying. They won’t stay dumb for long. ... Look what happened with TVs lol

Vote with your wallet and don't buy spyware!

We have strayed far from the original point. No one is saying buy spyware.

Do I really need to explain what I meant? I feel like it’s pretty clear, everyone responding to you seems to get it.

I really hate how prescriptive comments have to be on HN sometimes.

Here: at present they are dumb and are generally not being used for spying or paired with invasive apps. However, if they become more popular, that is likely to change, which is something I am not looking forward to. It would mean you’d have to use older, inferior hardware, which is fine for basic laptops and Linux and such but displays get noticeably better every few years. I’d rather not have to use dated hardware for something my eyes have to stare at for long periods just because companies are greedy about data.

Is that clear enough?